Miguel Rodriguez

A year ago at this time, Joe Licata was an undrafted rookie quarterback in Cincinnati Bengals training camp trying to earn a job for a team that's a member of the shield.
The NFL didn't quite work out for the former Williamsville South and University at Buffalo star quarterback. Perhaps that was for the best as a year later, Licata finds himself living out a different d…

The tradition continues at Sweet Home.
Whenever the Panthers gather for their first practice of the season, the team conducts fitness tests during the morning session which not only gives the coaching staff an idea who's in tip-top shape for the coming football season but ultimately helps determine who captures the prestigious Iron Panther Award.
The honor is earned …

Stevenson McDuffie is in a position he hasn't been in for quite some time.
The Bennett coach is in a spot where he has to get to know his personnel – and not just what they can and can't do on the football field.
"I'll have to get to know personalities," said McDuffie, who also is still learning players names after his senior-heavy outfit won the Section VI Class A…

Canisius High School graduate and first team All-Western New York volleyball selection Devin Joslyn will represent USA Volleyball in the FIVB Boys Under-19 World Championship tournament.
The event begins Friday and runs through Aug. 27 in Bahrain, which is situated between the Qatar peninsula and north eastern coast of Saudi Arabia.
The 6-foot-6 Joslyn is an outside …

For 16 years, Lancaster entered its first official practice of the football season with one objective – put it in the work necessary to win the Section VI championship.
As the Legends prepare for the coming season, hitting the field early Monday at the Len Jankiewicz Athletic Complex behind their high school, they're kind of in unfamiliar territory because the objecti…

It's about getting better and testing himself.
That's the biggest reason Park basketball star Joe Jones is transferring to a prep school in Canada after three seasons of helping the Pioneers experience nothing but success on the court.
The 6-foot-10 Jones is taking his talents to Orangeville Prep, which is part of the Athlete Institute Basketball Academy in Mono, Ont…

Friday Night Lights should remain high school football's day to shine, according to a National Federation of State High School Associations.
The NFHS announced Wednesday it has adopted the following resolution:
“Be it resolved that every Friday night during the fall in America is ‘High School Football Night.’
“Be it further resolved that college and profes…

While the total number of boys and girls playing high school sports increased nationally for the 28th straight year, the participation numbers for football are slightly down, according to a survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
The total number of athletes playing sports in all 50 states and the District of Columbia reached an al…

Larry D'Arcy will be remembered as a cerebral coach who not only was a student of the game of football but had the ability to bring out the best in players he mentored.
The former St. Joe's, Maryvale and Burgard assistant football coach passed away suddenly early Tuesday morning after suffering a heart attack Monday night. He was 60 years old.
While D'Arcy coached at…

Longtime Williamsville North baseball coach Jerry Scarcella has retired from teaching and coaching.
Scarcella, a health teacher for the school district for 22 years, guided the Spartans to the Section VI Class AA final last season. While they lost that game to Clarence, they were the only team to beat then defending section champion Lancaster during the 2017 season, def…

On a day in which the Rangers' Adrian Beltre became the 31st player in Major League Baseball history to record 3,000 hits, Sunday provided the latest reminder as to why sports remains the best reality show running.
Among the highlights:
-- The Blue Jays' Steve Pearce belted his second walk-off grand slam of the week, becoming just the third player in big league histo…

Football's a funny game in that there's no telling how a contest will play out.
Take the 42nd Annual Kensington Lions Club All-Star High School Football Classic for example.
The game featured two of the top three quarterbacks from last season who combined to pass for roughly 4,000 yards on the same team, which would easily result in one expecting touchdowns and plent…

Word of quarterback Matt Myers throwing passes for West Seneca West during a 7-on-7 tournament at Lancaster High School on Tuesday made the rounds on social media.
It's something that the University at Buffalo commit will be doing with regularity this football season as the 2016 first team All-Western New York selection announced via Twitter Wednesday afternoon that he …

It's always a challenge putting together the Final Power 10 for the school year.
Why?
So many worthy teams yet only 10 can earn coveted spots in the annual year-ending ranking.
Two years ago there were 15 state champions crowned across the fall, winter and spring seasons. That meant there were teams that won the very last game of their respective playoff tournamen…

To replace one of the most accomplished sports figures in its history, Bishop Timon-St. Jude has turned to a young man who has already cemented legendary status in Western New York high school sports.
Former Williamsville South and University at Buffalo star quarterback Joe Licata will succeed Charlie Comerford as athletic director and football coach at the South Buffal…